🏀 The weekend in college hoops

Baylor adds heralded recruit Jason Asemota, North Carolina held an intrasquad scrimmage, Jerome Tang gets fraternal, plus more

August 29, 2022

Nebraska football kicked off its annual tradition of underwhelming, which can only mean one thing — fall is just around the corner. And as the leaves change colors and the air gets crisper, it also signifies that college basketball season inches closer and closer.

Of course, The Field of 68 Daily keeps you updated with the biggest storylines in the sport. But why stop there? Our preseason magazine, The Almanac (a collaborative effort with Heat Check CBB, Three Man Weave and Verbal Commits), opened up pre-orders last week. Don’t be privy to poor decisions (like a certain Nebraska coach) and snag it now for $15.99 before the price goes up on the Sept. 26 release date.

Let’s get to the news.

THREE POINTERS

1. Baylor lands a big wing

Over the past few seasons, Scott Drew has regained his recruiting mojo, and that showed over the weekend as Jason Asemota, a top-15 prospect in the class of 2024, chose Baylor.

One would assume that Jeremy Sochan’s success and subsequent NBA lottery selection bolstered Baylor’s chances with Asemota. As did Kendall Brown being drafted in the second round — though the 6-8 wing has a different skill set than both of his predecessors.

Asemota doesn’t have the cerebral passing of Sochan or the defensive versatility of Brown. However, he probably surpasses them both in vertical athleticism. At Baylor, he will immediately translate as an off-ball mover who will get free along the baseline for alley-oops.

Additionally, Drew can deploy him as a catch-and-shoot threat at either the 3 or the 4 due to his pure 3-point stroke. Asemota also has some upside as a creator off the bounce.

The highly-touted recruit sensed Baylor’s love from the beginning.

“Baylor was all in on me from the very beginning and showed me that I’m their number 1 priority rather than just telling me I am,” he told On3.

Also in the world of recruiting:

  • Four-star Amani Hansberry (2023) chose Illinois. The 6-8 forward is a rebounding machine and a cerebral passer with maturing face-up skills.

  • Devin Williams, a skilled stretch-4 and a top-75 recruit in the class of 2023, picked Mick Cronin and UCLA. His commitment comes as welcome news, as the Bruins will graduate Jaime Jaquez after this season.

  • Nate Oats reeled in 2023 point guard RJ Johnson. A 3-star recruit, Johnson will be a developmental prospect for the Tide.

  • Frank Martin continued his torrid recruiting stretch, receiving a commitment from Robert Davis Jr., a rangy 6-6 wing in the class of 2023.

2. Tales from The Almanac

We know we’ve been promoting The Almanac nonstop. But hey, when you get every D1 coach on the record, you got something good to advertise!

But what was it like interviewing the coaches? Which teams unexpectedly landed on our radar for the upcoming season? Tune into a podcast from our friends at Heat Check CBB (of which I am a part) to find out.

Some highlights (starting around the 25-minute mark):

  • Why San Diego State is a legitimate Final Four contender (spoiler alert: Seattle transfer Darrion Trammell could not fit more perfectly into Brian Dutcher’s scheme).

  • Thoughts on Howard’s Elijah Hawkins and how his proficiency in pick-and-roll could help the Bison unseat Norfolk State in the MEAC.

  • How UC Santa Barbara and its four returning starters can get to the Big Dance — and potentially win a game.

  • Projections for a loaded Sun Belt, along with a forecast on James Madison, who may be a cut above the rest.

3. Boots on the ground at UNC’s scrimmage

It’s standard procedure for teams to host intrasquad scrimmages with open access to the public. But North Carolina’s Blue-White contest on Saturday featured a new wrinkle — NIL opportunities. Per InsideCarolina, George Lazaroff of G3 Marketing “[ran the scrimmage] for ProCamps” and “said a portion of the proceeds will be used for player compensation, and a charitable organization will receive a portion of the proceeds as well.”

It was nice to see the game benefit the student-athletes while also taking on a philanthropic nature. But of course, the on-court product provides more compelling storylines. I was in the Dean Dome for the scrimmage, and while exhibitions only offer so many takeaways, there were still a few interesting developments.

For starters, RJ Davis looked like the best player. The 6-0 junior got wherever he wanted, finished at the rim and hit a couple of runners in the paint. At one point in the first half, he drove left and switched hands mid-air to finish around Pete Nance. He also splashed three triples.

Speaking of Nance, he set plenty of high ball screens for Caleb Love and Seth Trimble, showing that Hubert Davis’ pick-and-roll heavy scheme isn’t going anywhere. More notably though, Nance flashed exceptional touch in the mid-post, sinking a trio of 15-footers.

And regarding Trimble — he appears to be the perfect change-of-pace guard behind Love and Davis. He displayed ACC-ready defense, excelling both on and off-ball, even blocking an Armando Bacot shot attempt at the rim on one possession. Trimble also looked impressive on offense, getting into the paint at will. Known for his explosive bounce, the 6-3 frosh seemed to levitate every time his feet left the court; he finished with 21 points on 7-12 shooting.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Impossibly crunchy, remarkably airy crisps made from simple ingredients

Try Snacklins' Savory Starter Pack with 10 snack-size bags in 5 delicious flavors! Just $25 + FREE Shipping. Only valid for first-time customers.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Live from ManFrattan, Kansas

Jerome Tang continued his late summer surge, this time pulling up at a fraternity house for a “darty”/basketball tournament. If the reaction from the attendees in the video gives any indication, K-State should have a packed student section in Year 1.

THE FAST BREAK

Links to click as you wait in the carpool line:

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! Be sure to share it with a friend!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Get unlimited 1:1 Math tutoring, a free college counseling session, $80 off ACT/SAT prep course and much more. Claim your offer!

To sponsor a future Field of 68 Daily newsletter, please connect with us here. For article ideas, newsletter feedback, tips and more, shoot us a note at [email protected].